Methods and systems for using and updating remotely-generated translation predictions during local, computer-aided translation

ABSTRACT

A method for local, computer-aided translation using remotely-generated translation predictions includes the step of determining that a translation stored in a remote translation memory is useful in translating a first portion of a local document. A local machine receives the translation. Prior to receiving a request form a translator for the translation, a determination is made that the remote translation memory stores an updated version of the translation. The updated version of the translation is identified as useful in translating a second portion of the document. The local machine generates a translation of the second portion of the document through reuse of the updated version of the translation, responsive to the identification of the utility of the updated version of the translation in translating the second portion of the document.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and systems for providingcomputer-aided translation. In particular, the present invention relatesto methods and systems for local, computer-aided translation usingremotely-generated translation predictions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In conventional systems for computer-aided translation, atranslation-memory application receives a document in one language(referred to as a source document) for translation into a second,target, language. In these systems, the application typically includes atranslation memory that stores an enumeration of phrases, terms,sentences, or other segments of text in the source language with acorresponding translation into the target language for each of theenumerated segments of text. Translation-memory applications may analyzetext according to stored rules or algorithms to identify the segments oftext in the source document for which the translation memory stores acorresponding translation into the target language.

In some systems, a translation-memory application may provide a clientapplication, executing on a machine used by a translator, and a remotetranslation memory, residing on a remote server. Typical translationmemories may store thousands of translations and require a significantamount of time to identify an appropriate translation for a portion of asource document. The perceptible amounts of time required to process andtransmit a translation over a network to a translator creates aninconvenience for typical users. However, insufficient network bandwidthor storage capacity on the machine used by the translator may preventthe translation-memory application from transmitting the translationmemory directly to the machine used by the translator.

Methods and systems for providing translators with access over a networkto remote translation memories without the delay and inconvenience ofconventional systems would be desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a method for local, computer-aided translation usingremotely-generated translation predictions includes the step ofreceiving, by a remote translation memory, at least one portion of adocument in a source language for translation into a target language.The remote translation memory determines, prior to receiving from atranslator a request for a translation of a second portion of thedocument, that a translation of the at least one portion of the documentis useful in translating the second portion of the document. A localmachine receives the translation of the first portion of the documentand an identification of the utility of the translation of the firstportion of the document to the translation of the second portion of thedocument. The local machine generates a translation of the secondportion of the document through reuse of the translation of the firstportion of the document, responsive to the received identification ofthe utility of the translation of the first portion of the document tothe second portion of the document.

In one embodiment, the remote translation receives the at least oneportion of the document from a translation agent on the local machine.In another embodiment, the local machine receives an updated version ofa translation replacing a previously-received translation.

In another aspect, a system for local, computer-aided translation usingremotely-generated translation predictions includes a remote translationmemory comprising a first receiver, a remote translation engine, and atransmitter, and a local machine comprising a second receiver and atranslation agent. The first receiver receives at least one portion of adocument in a source language for translating into a target language.The remote translation engine determines, prior to receiving from atranslator a request for a translation of a second portion of thedocument, that a translation of the at least one portion of the documentis useful in translating the second portion of the document. Thetransmitter transmits the translation of the at least one portion of thedocument and an identification of the utility of the translation of thefirst portion of the document to the translation of the second portionof the document.

The second receiver, on the local machine, receives the translation ofthe first portion of the document and the identification of the utilityof the translation of the first portion of the document to thetranslation of the second portion of the document. The translation agentgenerates a translation of the second portion of the document,responsive to the received identification of the utility of thetranslation of the first portion of the document to the second portionof the document.

In one embodiment, the first receiver receives, from the translationagent, at least one portion of a document in a source language fortranslation into a target language. In another embodiment, the remotetranslation memory resides on a remote translation server. In stillanother embodiment, the remote translation engine includes a cachestoring one or more translations. In yet another embodiment, the remotetranslation engine includes a transceiver providing the functionality ofa transmitter and a receiver.

In still another aspect, a method for local, computer-aided translationusing remotely-generated translation predictions includes the step ofreceiving, by a remote translation memory, at least one portion of afirst document in a source language for translation into a targetlanguage. The remote translation memory determines, prior to receivingfrom a translator a request for a translation of the at least oneportion of the first document, that a translation of at least oneportion of a second document is useful in translating the at least oneportion of the first document. A local machine receives anidentification of the utility of the translation of the at least oneportion of the second document to the translation of the at least oneportion of the first document. The local machine generates a translationof the at least one portion of the first document through reuse of thetranslation of the at least one portion of the second document,responsive to the received identification of the utility of thetranslation of the at least one portion of the second document to thetranslation of the at least one portion of the first document.

In one embodiment, the remote translation memory receives, from thelocal machine, the at least one portion of the first document in thesource language for translation into the target language. In anotherembodiment, the remote translation memory receives, from the translationagent on the local machine, the at least one portion of the firstdocument in the source language for translation into the targetlanguage. In still another embodiment, the local machine stores thereceived translation in a local cache.

In yet another aspect, a system for local, computer-aided translationusing remotely-generated translation predictions includes a remotetranslation memory comprising a first receiver, a remote translationengine, and a transmitter. The first receiver receives at least oneportion of a first document in a source language for translation into atarget language. The remote translation engine determines, prior toreceiving from a translator a request for a translation of the at leastone portion of the first document, that a translation of at least oneportion of a second document is useful in translating the at least oneportion of the first document. The transmitter transmits the translationof the at least one portion of the first document and an identificationof the utility of the translation of the at least one portion of thefirst document to the translation of the at least one portion of thesecond document. The system also includes a local machine comprising asecond receiver and a translation agent. The second receiver receivesthe translation of the at least one portion of the first document andthe identification of the utility of the translation of the at least oneportion of the second document to the translation of the at least oneportion of the first document. The translation agent generates atranslation of the at least one portion of the first document throughreuse of the translation of the at least one portion of the seconddocument, responsive to the received identification of the utility ofthe translation of the at least one portion of the second document tothe translation of the at least one portion of the first document.

In one embodiment, the remote translation memory further comprises aplurality of stored translations. In another embodiment, a plurality oftranslation agents accesses the remote translation memory. In stillanother embodiment, the first receiver receives, from the translationagent, the at least one portion of the first document in the sourcelanguage for translation into the target language.

In one aspect, a method for local, computer-aided translation usingremotely-generated translation predictions includes the step ofdetermining that a translation stored in a remote translation memory isuseful in translating a first portion of a local document. A localmachine receives the translation. The local machine stores, in a localcache, an alternate version of the translation. The alternate version ofthe translation is identified as useful in translating a second portionof the document. The local machine generates a translation of the secondportion of the document through reuse of the alternate version of thetranslation, responsive to the identification of the utility of thealternate version of the translation in the translation of the secondportion of the document.

In one embodiment, a determination is made as to whether an updatedversion of the translation makes the received translation obsolete. Inanother embodiment, the remote translation memory receives a request foran updated version of the translation. In still another embodiment, atranslator modifies the received translation. In yet another embodiment,the local machine transmits the alternate version of the translation tothe remote translation memory.

In another aspect, a system for local, computer-aided translation usingremotely-generated translation predictions includes a remote translationserver and a local machine. The remote translation server includes aremote translation memory, a remote translation engine, and atransmitter. The local machine comprises a receiver, a local cache, auser interface, and a translation agent. The remote translation memoryprovides access to a stored translation. The remote translation enginedetermines that the stored translation is useful in translating a firstportion of a document. The transmitter transmits the translation. Thereceiver receives the translation of the first portion of the document.The local cache stores the translation of the first portion in a cache.The user interface receives from a translator an alternate version ofthe translation of the first portion of the document. The translationagent identifies the alternate version of the translation of the firstportion of the document as useful in the translation of a second portionof the document and generates a translation of the second portion of thedocument through reuse of the alternate version of the translation ofthe first portion of the document, responsive to the identification ofthe utility of the alternate version translation of the first portion ofthe document in the translation of the second portion of the document.

In one embodiment, the remote translation memory stores a plurality oftranslations. In another embodiment, the translation agent furthercomprises a means for determining whether an updated version of thetranslation makes the received translation obsolete. In still anotherembodiment, the receiver receives, from a translator, a modification tothe received translation. In yet another embodiment, the local machinefurther comprises a transmitter sending, to the remote translationserver, the alternate version of the translation.

In still another aspect, a method for local, computer-aided translationusing remotely-generated translation predictions includes the step ofdetermining that a translation stored in a remote translation memory isuseful in translating a first portion of a local document. A localmachine receives the translation. A determination is made, prior toreceiving from a translator a request for the translation, that theremote translation memory stores an updated version of the translation.The updated version of the translation is identified as useful intranslating a second portion of the document. The local machinegenerates a translation of the second portion of the document throughreuse of the updated version of the translation, responsive to theidentification of the utility of the updated version of the translationin translating the second portion of the document.

In one embodiment, a determination is made that the updated version ofthe translation makes the received translation obsolete. In anotherembodiment, the remote translation memory transmits an indication thatthe remote translation memory stores an updated version of thetranslation. In still another embodiment, the remote translation memoryreceives a request for the updated version of the translation. In yetanother embodiment, a translator modifies the updated version of thetranslation.

In yet another aspect, a system for local, computer-aided translationusing remotely-generated translation prediction includes a remotetranslation server and a local machine. The remote translation serverincludes a remote translation memory, a remote translation engine, and atransmitter. The remote translation memory provides access to a storedtranslation. The remote translation engine determines that a translationstored in a remote translation memory is useful in translating a firstportion of the document. The transmitter transmits the storedtranslation. The local machine includes a receiver and a translationagent. The receiver receives the translation of the first portion of thedocument. The translation agent determines, prior to receiving from atranslator a request for the translation, that the remote translationmemory stores an updated version of the translation, identifies theupdated version of the translation as useful in translating a secondportion of the document, and generates a translation of the secondportion of the document through reuse of the updated version of thetranslation, responsive to the identification of the utility of theupdated version of the translation of the first portion of the documentin translating the second portion of the document.

In one embodiment, the remote translation memory stores a plurality oftranslations. In another embodiment, the remote translation serverfurther comprises a receiver for receiving from a local machine amodification to a translation stored in a remote translation memory onthe remote translation server. In still another embodiment, the localmachine further comprises a means for determining that the updatedversion of the translation makes the received translation obsolete. Insome embodiments, the receiver on the local machine receives from atranslator, a modification to the received translation. In one of theseembodiments, the local machine further comprises a transmitter sending,to the remote translation server, the alternate version of thetranslation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages ofthe invention will become more apparent and better understood byreferring to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a networkenvironment comprising client machines in communication with remotemachines;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a computer usefulin connection with the methods and systems described herein;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of a system forlocal, computer-aided translation using remotely-generated translationpredictions;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting one embodiment of the steps taken ina method for local, computer-aided translation using remotely-generatedtranslation predictions;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting another embodiment of a system forreusing remotely-generated translations across a plurality of documents;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram depicting another embodiment of the steps takenin a method for reusing remotely-generated translations across aplurality of documents;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of a system forlocal, computer-aided translation incorporating translator revisions toremotely-generated translation predictions;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram depicting one embodiment of the steps taken ina method for local, computer-aided translation incorporating translatorrevisions to remotely-generated translation predictions;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting another embodiment of a system formaintaining and updating remotely-generated translation predictions; and

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram depicting another embodiment of the steps takenin a method for maintaining and updating remotely-generated translationpredictions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1A, an embodiment of a network environment isdepicted. In brief overview, the network environment comprises one ormore clients 102 a-102 n (also generally referred to as local machine(s)102, or client(s) 102) in communication with one or more servers 106a-106 n (also generally referred to as server(s) 106, or remotemachine(s) 106) via one or more networks 104.

The network 104 can be a local-area network (LAN), such as a companyIntranet, a metropolitan area network (MAN), or a wide area network(WAN), such as the Internet or the World Wide Web. In some embodiments,there are multiple networks 104 between the clients 102 and the servers106. In one of these embodiments, a network 104′ may be a privatenetwork and a network 104 may be a public network. In another of theseembodiments, a network 104 may be a private network and a network 104′ apublic network. In still another embodiment, networks 104 and 104′ mayboth be private networks.

The network 104 may be any type and/or form of network and may includeany of the following: a point to point network, a broadcast network, awide area network, a local area network, a telecommunications network, adata communication network, a computer network, an ATM (AsynchronousTransfer Mode) network, a SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) network, aSDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) network, a wireless network and awireline network. In some embodiments, the network 104 may comprise awireless link, such as an infrared channel or satellite band. Thetopology of the network 104 may be a bus, star, or ring networktopology. The network 104 and network topology may be of any suchnetwork or network topology as known to those ordinarily skilled in theart capable of supporting the operations described herein. The networkmay comprise mobile telephone networks utilizing any protocol orprotocols used to communicate among mobile devices, including AMPS,TDMA, CDMA, GSM, GPRS or UMTS. In some embodiments, different types ofdata may be transmitted via different protocols. In other embodiments,the same types of data may be transmitted via different protocols.

In some embodiments, the servers 106 may be geographically dispersedfrom each other or from the clients 102. The servers 106 and the clients102 may be heterogeneous. One or more of the servers 106 or clients 102can operate according to one type of operating system platform (e.g.,WINDOWS XP, manufactured by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash.), whileone or more of the other servers 106 or clients 102 can operate onaccording to another type of operating system platform (e.g., Unix orLinux). The clients 102 and the servers 106 may be interconnected usinga wide-area network (WAN) connection or a metropolitan-area network(MAN) connection. Data transmission speeds between servers 106 andclients 102 can be increased if the servers 106 and the clients 102 areconnected using a local-area network (LAN) connection or some form ofdirect connection.

A server 106 may be referred to as a file server, application server,web server, proxy server, or gateway server. In some embodiments, aserver 106 may have the capacity to function as either an applicationserver or as a master application server. In one embodiment, a server106 may include an Active Directory. The clients 102 may also bereferred to as client nodes, client machines, endpoint nodes, orendpoints. In some embodiments, a client 102 has the capacity tofunction as both a client node seeking access to resources provided by aserver and as a server providing access to hosted resources for otherclients 102 a-102 n.

In some embodiments, a client 102 communicates with a server 106. In oneembodiment, the client 102 communicates directly with one of the servers106. In another embodiment, the client 102 communicates with a server106 through a network 104. Over the network 104, the client 102 can, forexample, request access to resources hosted by the servers 106 a-106 n.In other embodiments, a client 102 a communicates with a client 102 b.In one of these embodiments, the client 102 a communicates directly withone of the clients 102. In another of these embodiments, the client 102a communicates with the client 102 b through a network 104.

In one embodiment, the server 106 provides functionality of a web orInternet server, or a desktop sharing server, or a collaboration server.In another embodiment, the server 106 a receives requests from theclient 102 and responds to the requests. In still another embodiment,the server 106 a receives requests from the client 102, forwards therequests to a second server 106 b and responds to the request by theclient 102 with a response to the request from the server 106 b.

A client 102 may execute, operate or otherwise provide an application,which can be any type and/or form of software, program, or executableinstructions such as any type and/or form of web browser, web-basedclient, client-server application, an ActiveX control, or a Java applet,or any other type and/or form of executable instructions capable ofexecuting on client 102. The application can use any type of protocoland it can be, for example, an HTTP client, an FTP client, an Oscarclient, or a Telnet client. In one embodiment, the application comprisesany type of software related to voice over internet protocol (VoIP)communications, such as a soft IP telephone. In another embodiment, theapplication comprises any application related to real-time datacommunications, such as applications for streaming video and/or audio.

The client 102 and server 106 may be deployed as and/or executed on anytype and form of computing device, such as a computer, network device orappliance capable of communicating on any type and form of network andperforming the operations described herein. FIG. 1B depicts a blockdiagram of a computing device 100 useful for practicing an embodiment ofthe client 102 or a server 106. As shown in FIG. 1B, each computingdevice 100 includes a central processing unit 121, and a main memoryunit 122. As shown in FIG. 1B, a computing device 100 may include avisual display device 124, a keyboard 126 and/or a pointing device 127,such as a mouse.

The central processing unit 121 is any logic circuitry that responds toand processes instructions fetched from the main memory unit 122. Inmany embodiments, the central processing unit is provided by amicroprocessor unit, such as: those manufactured by Intel Corporation ofMountain View, Calif.; those manufactured by Motorola Corporation ofSchaumburg, Ill.; those manufactured by Transmeta Corporation of SantaClara, Calif.; the RS/6000 processor, those manufactured byInternational Business Machines of White Plains, N.Y.; or thosemanufactured by Advanced Micro Devices of Sunnyvale, Calif. Thecomputing device 100 may be based on any of these processors, or anyother processor capable of operating as described herein.

The computing device 100 may include a network interface 118 tointerface to a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN) or theInternet through a variety of connections including, but not limited to,standard telephone lines, LAN or WAN links (e.g., 802.11, T1, T3, 56 kb,X.25), broadband connections (e.g., ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM), wirelessconnections, or some combination of any or all of the above. The networkinterface 118 may comprise a built-in network adapter, network interfacecard, PCMCIA network card, card bus network adapter, wireless networkadapter, USB network adapter, modem or any other device suitable forinterfacing the computing device 100 to any type of network capable ofcommunication and performing the operations described herein.

A wide variety of I/O devices 130 a-130 n may be present in thecomputing device 100. Input devices include keyboards, mice, trackpads,trackballs, microphones, and drawing tablets. Output devices includevideo displays, speakers, inkjet printers, laser printers, anddye-sublimation printers. The I/O devices may be controlled by an I/Ocontroller 123 as shown in FIG. 1B. The I/O controller may control oneor more I/O devices such as a keyboard 126 and a pointing device 127,e.g., a mouse or optical pen. Furthermore, an I/O device may alsoprovide storage and/or an installation medium 116 for the computingdevice 100. In still other embodiments, the computing device 100 mayprovide USB connections to receive handheld USB storage devices such asthe USB Flash Drive line of devices manufactured by Twintech Industry,Inc. of Los Alamitos, Calif.

In some embodiments, the computing device 100 may comprise or beconnected to multiple display devices 124 a-124 n, which each may be ofthe same or different type and/or form. As such, any of the I/O devices130 a-130 n and/or the I/O controller 123 may comprise any type and/orform of suitable hardware, software, or combination of hardware andsoftware to support, enable or provide for the connection and use ofmultiple display devices 124 a-124 n by the computing device 100. Forexample, the computing device 100 may include any type and/or form ofvideo adapter, video card, driver, and/or library to interface,communicate, connect or otherwise use the display devices 124 a-124 n.In one embodiment, a video adapter may comprise multiple connectors tointerface to multiple display devices 124 a-124 n. In other embodiments,the computing device 100 may include multiple video adapters, with eachvideo adapter connected to one or more of the display devices 124 a-124n. In some embodiments, any portion of the operating system of thecomputing device 100 may be configured for using multiple displays 124a-124 n. In other embodiments, one or more of the display devices 124a-124 n may be provided by one or more other computing devices, such ascomputing devices 100 a and 100 b connected to the computing device 100,for example, via a network. These embodiments may include any type ofsoftware designed and constructed to use another computer's displaydevice as a second display device 124 a for the computing device 100.One ordinarily skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate thevarious ways and embodiments that a computing device 100 may beconfigured to have multiple display devices 124 a-124 n.

In further embodiments, an I/O device 130 may be a bridge between thesystem bus 150 and an external communication bus, such as a USB bus, anApple Desktop Bus, an RS-232 serial connection, a SCSI bus, a FireWirebus, a FireWire 800 bus, an Ethernet bus, an AppleTalk bus, a GigabitEthernet bus, an Asynchronous Transfer Mode bus, a HIPPI bus, a SuperHIPPI bus, a SerialPlus bus, a SCI/LAMP bus, a FibreChannel bus, or aSerial Attached small computer system interface bus.

A computing device 100 of the sort depicted in FIG. 1B typicallyoperates under the control of operating systems, which controlscheduling of tasks and access to system resources. The computing device100 can be running any operating system such as any of the versions ofthe MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating systems, the different releases of theUnix and Linux operating systems, any version of the MAC OS forMacintosh computers, any embedded operating system, any real-timeoperating system, any open source operating system, any proprietaryoperating system, any operating systems for mobile computing devices, orany other operating system capable of running on the computing deviceand performing the operations described herein. Typical operatingsystems include: WINDOWS 3.x, WINDOWS 95, WINDOWS 98, WINDOWS 2000,WINDOWS NT 3.51, WINDOWS NT 4.0, WINDOWS CE, and WINDOWS XP, all ofwhich are manufactured by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.; MACOS, manufactured by Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif.; OS/2,manufactured by International Business Machines of Armonk, N.Y.; andLinux, a freely-available operating system provided by Red Hat ofRaleigh, N.C., or any type and/or form of a Unix operating system, amongothers.

In some embodiments, the computing device 100 may have differentprocessors, operating systems, and input devices consistent with thedevice. For example, in one embodiment the computing device 100 is aTreo 180, 270, 600, 650, 680, 700p or 700w smart phone manufactured byPalm, Inc. In some of these embodiments, the Treo smart phone isoperated under the control of the PalmOS operating system and includes astylus input device as well as a five-way navigator device.

In other embodiments the computing device 100 is a mobile device, suchas a JAVA-enabled cellular telephone or personal digital assistant(PDA), such as the i55sr, i58sr, i85s, i88s, i90c, i95cl, or theim11000, all of which are manufactured by Motorola Corp. of Schaumburg,Ill., the 6035 or the 7135, manufactured by Kyocera of Kyoto, Japan, orthe i300 or i330, manufactured by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., ofSeoul, Korea.

In still other embodiments, the computing device 100 is a Blackberryhandheld or smart phone, such as the devices manufactured by Research InMotion Limited, including the Blackberry 7100 series, 8700 series, 7700series, 7200 series, the Blackberry 7520, or the Blackberry Pearl 8100.In yet other embodiments, the computing device 100 is a smart phone,Pocket PC, Pocket PC Phone, or other handheld mobile device supportingMicrosoft Windows Mobile Software. Moreover, the computing device 100can be any workstation, desktop computer, laptop or notebook computer,server, handheld computer, mobile telephone, any other computer, orother form of computing or telecommunications device that is capable ofcommunication and that has sufficient processor power and memorycapacity to perform the operations described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram depicts one embodiment of asystem for local, computer-aided translation using remotely-generatedtranslation predictions. The system includes a remote translation server106 and a local machine 102. In brief overview, a remote translationmemory 250 on the remote translation server 106 receives at least oneportion 245 a of a document 245 in a source language for translationinto a target language. The remote translation memory 250 determines,prior to receiving from a translator a request for a translation of asecond portion 245 b of the document 245, that a translation 260 of theat least one portion 245 a of the document 245 is useful in translatingthe second portion 245 b of the document 245. The local machine 102receives the translation 260 of the first portion 245 a of the document245 and receives an identification of the utility of the translation 260of the first portion 245 a of the document 245 to the translation of thesecond portion 245 b of the document 245. The local machine 102generates a translation 290 b of the second portion 245 b of thedocument 245 through reuse of the translation 260 of the first portion245 a of the document 245, responsive to the received identification ofthe utility of the translation 260 of the first portion 245 a of thedocument 245 to the second portion 245 b of the document 245.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, and in greater detail, the remote translationmemory 250 provides access to a stored translation 260. In oneembodiment, the remote translation server 106 is a server 106 asdescribed above in connection with FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. In anotherembodiment, the remote translation memory 250 resides on the remotetranslation server 106. In still another embodiment, the remotetranslation memory 250 is in communication with the remote translationserver 106.

In one embodiment, the remote translation memory 250 stores a pluralityof stored translations. In another embodiment, the remote translationmemory 250 further comprises a local cache storing a translation. Instill another embodiment, the remote translation memory 250 is incommunication with a cache storing a translation.

In some embodiments, a plurality of local machines accesses the remotetranslation memory 250. In one of the embodiments, the plurality oflocal machines accesses the remote translation memory 250 to request atranslation of a portion of a document. In another of these embodiments,the plurality of local machines accesses the remote translation memory250 to modify a stored translation on the remote translation memory 250.In still another of these embodiments, the plurality of local machinesaccess the remote translation memory 250 to add a translation to theremote translation memory 250.

The remote translation memory 250 comprises a first receiver 280. Thereceiver 280 receives at least one portion 245 a of a document 245 in asource language for translation into a target language. In oneembodiment, the receiver 280 receives the request from the local machine102. In another embodiment, the receiver 280 receives the request from atranslation agent 215 on the local machine 102.

In one embodiment, the receiver 280 receives a request for thetranslation 260. In still another embodiment, the receiver 280 receivesa request, from a local machine 102, for a translation of a firstportion 245 a of a local document 245. In still another embodiment, thereceiver 280 receives requests for the translation 260 or for atranslation of a portion of a local document 245 from one or more localmachines 102.

The remote translation memory 250 comprises a remote translation engine254. The remote translation engine 254 determines, prior to receivingfrom a translator a request for a translation of a second portion 245 bof the document 245, that a translation 260 of the at least one portion245 a of the document 245 is useful in translation the second portion245 b of the document 245. In some embodiments, the remote translationmemory 250 receives at least one portion of a first document prior toreceiving from a translator a request for a translation of the at leastone portion of the first document. In other embodiments, the remotetranslation memory 250 receives a first portion of a first document andcompletes a process of identifying a translation for the first portionbefore receiving a request for a translation of a second portion of thefirst document. In still other embodiments, the remote translationmemory 250 receives a portion of a first document and a portion of asecond document. In one of these embodiments, the remote translationmemory 250 completes a process of identifying a translation for theportion of the first document and of identifying the utility of thetranslation of the portion of the first document to a translation of theportion of the second document prior to receiving from a translator arequest for a translation of the portion of the second document.

In one embodiment, the remote translation engine 254 makes thedetermination upon receiving a request for the translation from thetranslation agent 215. In another embodiment, the translation agent 215makes the request for the translation prior to receiving a request forthe translation from a translator. In still another embodiment, thetranslation agent 215 monitors a translator translating a first portion245 a of the document 245. In yet another embodiment, the translationagent 215 identifies the second portion 245 b and makes a request to theremote translation memory 250 for a translation of the section 245 bwhile the translator translates, or edits a translation of, the firstportion 245 a of the document 245.

In one embodiment, the receiver 280 receives, from the local machine102, a modification to a translation 260 stored in the remotetranslation memory 250. In another embodiment, the receiver 280receives, from the local machine, an updated version of a translation260 stored in the remote translation memory 250. In still anotherembodiment, the remote translation engine 254 comprises a means fordetermining that the updated version of the translation 260 of the atleast one portion 245 a of the document 245 is useful in translating thesecond portion 245 b of the document 245.

The remote translation memory 250 comprises a transmitter 270. Thetransmitter 270 transmits the translation 260 of the first portion 245 aof the document 245 and transmits an identification of the utility ofthe translation 260 of the at least one portion 245 a of the document245 to the translation of the second portion 245 b of the document 245.In one embodiment, the transmitter 270 accesses the remote translationmemory 250 to send the translation 260 to the local machine 102. Inanother embodiment, the transmitter 270 receives, from the remotetranslation engine 254, an identification of the translation 260 totransmit to the local machine 102. In still another embodiment thetransmitter 270 resides in the remote translation memory 250.

The local machine 102 comprises a second receiver 230. The secondreceiver 230 receives the translation 260 of the first portion 245 a ofthe document 245 and the identification of the utility of thetranslation 260 of the first portion 245 a of the document 245 to thetranslation of the second portion 245 b of the document 245.

In one embodiment, the local machine 102 further comprises a local cache210 storing the translation 260 as received translation 220. In anotherembodiment, the local machine 102 is in communication with a cachestoring the translation 260 as received translation 220.

In one embodiment, the local machine 102 further comprises a receiver230 receiving a revision to a received translation 220. In anotherembodiment, the receiver 230 receives the revision from the remotetranslation server 106. In still another embodiment, the receiver 230receives the revision from a user of the local machine 102, such as atranslator.

In one embodiment, the local machine 102 further comprises a transmitter240 transmitting a portion 245 a to the remote translation server 106for translation from a source language to a target language. In anotherembodiment, the transmitter 240 transmits a portion 245 a to the remotetranslation memory 250 for translation from a source language to atarget language. In still another embodiment, the transmitter 240transmits a request for a translation 260. In yet another embodiment,the transmitter 240 transmits a modified version of a receivedtranslation 220 to the remote translation server 250. In someembodiments, the local machine 102 comprises a transceiver combining thefunctionality of the receiver 230 and the transmitter 240.

The local machine 102 comprises a translation agent 215. The translationagent 215 generates a translation 290 b of the second portion 245 b ofthe document 245 through reuse of the translation 260 of the firstportion 245 a of the document 245, responsive to the receivedidentification of the utility of the translation 260 of the firstportion 245 a of the document 245 to the second portion 245 b of thedocument 245. In some embodiments, the translation agent 215 comprises aclient-side software application program. In other embodiments, thetranslation agent 215 is embedded into, or associated with, anapplication program on the local machine. In one of these embodiments,the translation agent 215 is provided as a dynamically linked library.In another of these embodiments, the translation agent 215 is providedas a plug-in component of an application program executing on the localmachine.

In some embodiments, the translation agent 215 is in communication withthe remote translation memory 250. In one of these embodiments, thetranslation agent 215 identifies one or more portions—such as sentences,words, or phrases—in a document in a source language for translationinto a target language. In another of these embodiments, the translationagent 215 transmits a request to the remote translation memory 250 for atranslation of a portion of a document. In still another of theseembodiments, the translation agent 215 transmits the request to theremote translation memory 250 while a translator views, edits orcompletes a translation of a second portion of the document. In yetanother of these embodiments, the translation agent 215 displays thereceived translation to the translator.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow diagram depicts one embodiment of thesteps taken in a method for local, computer-aided translation usingremotely-generated translation predictions. In brief overview, a remotetranslation memory receives at least one portion of a document in asource language for translation into a target language (step 302). Theremote translation memory determines, prior to receiving from atranslator a request for a translation of a second portion of thedocument, that a translation of the at least one portion of the documentis useful in translating the second portion of the document (step 304).A local machine receives the translation of the first portion of thedocument and an identification of the utility of the translation of thefirst portion of the document to a translation of the second portion ofthe document (step 306). The local machine generates a translation ofthe second portion of the document through reuse of the translation ofthe first portion of the document, responsive to the receivedidentification of the utility of the translation of the first portion ofthe document to the second portion of the document (step 308).

In some embodiments, the document 245 comprises a plurality of portions245 a-245 n. In one of these embodiments, a portion of a documentcomprises a word, a phrase, a term, a portion of a sentence, an entiresentence, a portion of a paragraph, or an entire paragraph. In anotherof these embodiments, a user, such as a translator, requests atranslation of the document 245, which may be referred to as a sourcedocument. In still another of these embodiments, the translatoridentifies a target language into which the translator requeststranslation of the source document 245.

In some embodiments, a translator requests, from a local machine 102, atranslation of an entire document. In one of these embodiments, thelocal machine 102 begins translating portions of the document. Inanother of these embodiments, the local machine 102 translates a firstportion of the document using a translation 220 stored in the localcache and previously received from the remote translation server 106 astranslation 260. In still another of these embodiments, the localmachine 102 requests a translation 260 from the remote translationserver 106 when the local machine 102 determines that the local cachedoes not store a translation 260 useful for translating a portion of thesource document 245.

In these embodiments, the use of a locally stored translation 220 by thelocal machine 102 decreases a lag time, or delay, experienced by thetranslator between a time at which the translator requests a translationand the time at which the translator receives the translation. In oneembodiment, the use of a locally stored translation 220 enables thetranslator to translate portions of documents regardless of whether thetranslator has access to the remote translation memory 250 at the timeof the translation. Furthermore, since the stored translation 220 hasapplicability to at least one portion of the document for which thetranslator requests translation, in one embodiment, the local cache 210stores translations likely to have utility to the translation of thedocuments, and portions of documents, on which the translator works.

Referring now to FIG. 3, and in greater detail, a remote translationmemory receives at least one portion of a document in a source languagefor translation into a target language (step 302). In one embodiment,the remote translation memory 250 receives, from the local machine 102,at least one portion of a document in a source language for translationinto a target language. In another embodiment, the remote translationmemory 250 receives, from a translation agent on the local machine 102,at least one portion of a document in a source language for translationinto a target language. In still another embodiment, the remotetranslation memory 250 receives, from the local machine 102, an updatedversion of a translation replaced a stored translation 260. In yetanother embodiment, the remote translation memory 250 determines thatthe updated version of the translation of the at least one portion ofthe document is useful in translating a second portion of the document.

The remote translation memory determines, prior to receiving from atranslator a request for a translation of a second portion of thedocument, that a translation of the at least one portion of the documentis useful in translating the second portion of the document (step 304).In some embodiments, the remote translation memory 250 includes a meansfor determining that a translation 260 is useful in translating a firstportion of a document 245. In one of these embodiments, the means fordetermining the utility of a translation 260 comprises a database. Inanother of these embodiments, the means for determining the utility of atranslation 260 comprises a table.

In one embodiment, the means for determining the utility of atranslation 260 includes an enumeration of the translation 260 and aphrase associated with the translation 260. In another embodiment, themeans for determining the utility of a translation 260 determines thatthe document 245 includes the phrase associated with the translation260. In still another embodiment, the means for determining the utilityof a translation 260 determines that the local machine 102 may use thetranslation 260 to translate the identified phrase associated with thetranslation 260 responsive to the determination the document 245includes the identified phrase.

In some embodiments, the remote translation memory 250 performs a searchfor a portion of a document 245 in a database, such as a translationmemory. In one of these embodiments, the remote translation memory 250performs a fuzzy search for a portion of a document 245 in a database,such as a translation memory. In another of these embodiments, theremote translation memory 250 performs an exact search for a portion ofa document 245 in a database, such as a translation memory. In stillanother of these embodiments, the portion of the document is a segment,such as a sentence or part of speech. In yet another of theseembodiments, the remote translation memory 250 finds the portion of thedocument in the translation memory database and identifies one or moretranslations associated with the portion of the document in thedatabase. In other embodiments, the remote translation memory 250transmits an enumeration of identified, associated translations. In oneof these embodiments, the remote translation memory 250 transmits theone or more translations 260. In another of these embodiments, theenumeration of associated translations includes a ranking by relevanceof the translation to the translator, ranked by relevance. In stillanother of these embodiments, the ranking is based on a type of matchmade between the translation and the portion of the document. In yetanother of these embodiments, types of matching include, but are notlimited to, exact matching, fuzzy matching, and a similarity between newtext and text already translated in the translation memory.

A local machine receives the translation of the first portion of thedocument and an identification of the utility of the translation of thefirst portion of the document to a translation of the second portion ofthe document (step 306). In one embodiment, the local machine 102 storesthe received translation. In another embodiment, the local machine 102,stores the received translation in a local cache 210. In still anotherembodiment, the local machine 102 receives a revision to a receivedtranslation 220. In some embodiments, and as described in greater detailbelow in connection with FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the local machine 102determines whether the remote translation memory 250 stores an updatedversion of the received translation 220. In one of these embodiments,the local machine 102 uses the updated version of the receivedtranslation.

The local machine generates a translation of the second portion of thedocument through reuse of the translation of the first portion of thedocument, responsive to the received identification of the utility ofthe translation of the first portion of the document to the secondportion of the document (step 308). In one embodiment, the local machine102 includes an application program that receives the translation 260,stores the translation 260 in the local cache as received translation220, and generates a translation 290 of at least one portion 245 a ofthe document 245 using the received translation 220.

In some embodiments, the local machine 102 generates a translation ofthe second portion 245 b of the document 245 by replacing the secondportion 245 b of the document 245 with the received translation 220. Inone of these embodiments, the translation agent 215 on the local machine102 generates the translation. In other embodiments, the translationagent 215 displays the translation to a translator. In one of theseembodiments, the translation agent 215 displays, via a user interface,the translation to the translator. In another of these embodiments, thetranslation agent 215 displays, via an application program on the localmachine 102, the translation of the second portion of the document 645.In still other embodiments, the translator approves, rejects, ormodifies the translation.

In one embodiment, the local machine 102 displays the translation of thesecond portion of the document 245 to a translator. In anotherembodiment, and as discussed in greater detail below in connection withFIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the local machine 102 receives alternate versions ofthe translation 220 from the translator responsive to a review of thetranslation of the second portion of the document 245. In someembodiments, the local machine 102 generates a translation of a thirdportion 245 c of the document 245 through reuse of the alternate versionof the translation 220.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram depicts one embodiment of asystem for reusing remotely-generated translations across a plurality ofdocuments. In brief overview, the remote translation memory comprises afirst receiver 280, a remote translation engine 254, and a transmitter270. The first receiver 280 receives at least one portion 445 a of afirst document 445 in a source language for translation into a targetlanguage. The remote translation engine 254 determines, prior toreceiving from a translator a request for a translation of the at leastone portion 445 a of the first document 445, that a translation 425 ofat least one portion 415 a of a second document 415 is useful intranslating the at least one portion 445 a of the first document 445.The transmitter transmits a translation 425 of the at least one portion415 a of the second document 415 and transmits an identification of theutility of the translation 425 of the at least one portion 415 a of thesecond document 415 to the translation of the at least one portion of445 a of the first document 445. A local machine 102 comprises a secondreceiver 230 and a translation agent 215. The second receiver 230receives the translation 425 of the at least one portion 415 a of thefirst document 415 and the identification of the utility of thetranslation 425 to the translation of the at least one portion 445 a ofthe first document 445. The translation agent 215 generates atranslation 490 of the at least one portion 445 a of the first document445 through reuse of the translation 425 of the at least one portion 415a of the second document 415, responsive to the received identificationof the utility of the translation 425 to the translation of the at leastone portion 445 a of the first document 445.

Referring now to FIG. 4, and in greater detail, in some embodiments, theremote translation server 106 and the local machine 102 include thecomponents and provide the functionality of the remote translationserver 106 and the local machine 102 described in connection with FIG. 2and FIG. 3. The receiver 280 receives at least one portion 445 a of afirst document 445 in a source language for translation into a targetlanguage. In one embodiment, the receiver 280 receives the at least oneportion 445 a of the first document 445 from the local machine 102. Inanother embodiment, the receiver 280 receives the at least one portion445 a of the first document 445 from a transmitter 240 on the localmachine 102. In still another embodiment, the receiver 280 receives theat least one portion 445 a of the first document 445 from thetranslation agent 215 on the local machine.

In one embodiment, the receiver 280 receives, from the local machine102, a modification to a translation 425 stored by the remotetranslation memory 250. In another embodiment, the receiver 280 receivesan updated version of a translation 425 stored by the remote translationmemory 250. In still another embodiment, the receiver 280 receives a newtranslation to store in the remote translation memory 250. In yetanother embodiment, the remote translation engine 254 includes a meansfor determining that a new, updated, or modified version of atranslation 425 received from the local machine 102 is useful intranslating at least one portion of the document 445.

In one embodiment, the remote translation memory 250 resides on a remotetranslation server 106. In another embodiment, the remote translationmemory 250 is in communication with a remote translation server 106. Instill another embodiment, the remote translation memory 250 furthercomprises a location cache storing translations 425. In yet anotherembodiment, the remote translation memory 250 is in communication with alocal cache storing a translation 425.

In one embodiment, the remote translation memory 250 stores a pluralityof translations. In another embodiment, a plurality of local machines102 accesses the remote translation memory 250. In still anotherembodiment, the receiver 280 receives, from one or more local machines102, requests for a translation of at least one portion of a localdocument 445.

The remote translation engine 254 determines, prior to receiving from atranslator a request for a translation of the at least one portion 445 aof the first document 445, that a translation of at least one portion415 a of a second document 415 is useful in translating the at least oneportion 445 a of the first document 445. In some embodiments, the remotetranslation memory stores the at least one portion 415 a of the seconddocument 415. In other embodiments, and as depicted in FIG. 4, theremote translation server stores the second document 415. In still otherembodiments, a second remote translation memory 250 on the remotetranslation server 106 stores the at least one portion 415 a. In one ofthese embodiments, the second remote translation memory 250 on theremote translation server 106 stores the second document 415. In evenstill other embodiments, a second remote translation server 106 b storesthe at least one portion 415 a. In one of these embodiments, the secondremote translation server 106 b stores the second document 415. Inanother of these embodiments, a second remote translation memory 250′ onthe second remote translation server 106 b stores the at least oneportion 415 a. In still another of these embodiments, a second remotetranslation memory 250′ on the second remote translation server 106 bstores the second document 415.

The transmitter transmits a translation 425 of the at least one portion415 a of the second document 415 and transmits an identification of theutility of the translation 425 of the at least one portion 415 a of thesecond document 415 to the translation of the at least one portion of445 a of the first document 445. In some embodiments, the transmitterreceives an identification of a translation 425 to transmit from theremote translation engine 254. In other embodiments, the transmitterreceives the identification of the utility of the translation 425 of theat least one portion 415 a of the second document 415 to the translationof the at least one portion of 445 a of the first document 445 from theremote translation engine 254.

In some embodiments, the remote translation memory 250 includes atransceiver combining the functionality of the receiver 280 and thetransmitter 270. In other embodiments, the remote translation engine 254includes a transceiver combining the functionality of the receiver 280and the transmitter 270. In still other embodiments, a remotetranslation server 106 includes a transceiver combining thefunctionality of the receiver 280 and the transmitter 270.

A local machine 102 comprises a second receiver 230 and a translationagent 215. In some embodiments, the local machine 102 includes areceiver 230 receiving a revision to a received translation 425. Inother embodiments, the local machine 102 includes a transmitter 240sending, to the remote translation memory 250, a modified version of areceived translation. In still other embodiments, the translation agent215 on the local machine 102 comprises the receiver 230 and thetransmitter 240.

The second receiver 230 receives the translation 425 of the at least oneportion 415 a of the first document 415 and the identification of theutility of the translation 425 to the translation of the at least oneportion 445 a of the first document 445. The translation agent 215generates a translation 490 of the at least one portion 445 a of thefirst document 445 through reuse of the translation 425 of the at leastone portion 415 a of the second document 415, responsive to the receivedidentification of the utility of the translation 425 to the translationof the at least one portion 445 a of the first document 445.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a flow diagram depicts one embodiment of thesteps taken in a method for local, computer-aided translationincorporating translator revisions to remotely-generated translationpredictions. A remote translation memory receives at least one portionof a first document in a source language for translation into a targetlanguage (step 502). The remote translation memory determines, prior toreceiving from a translator a request for a translation of the at leastone portion of the first document, that a translation of at least oneportion of a second document is useful in translating the at least oneportion of the first document (steps 504). A local machine receives anidentification of the utility of the translation of the at least oneportion of the second document to the translation of the at least oneportion of the first document (step 506). The local machine generates atranslation of the at least one portion of the first document throughreuse of the translation of the at least one portion of the seconddocument, responsive to the received identification of the utility ofthe translation of the at least one portion of the second document tothe translation of the at least one portion of the first document (step508).

Referring now to FIG. 5 and in greater detail, a remote translationmemory receives at least one portion of a first document in a sourcelanguage for translation into a target language (step 502). In oneembodiment, the remote translation memory 250 receives, from a localmachine 102, the at least one portion 445 a of the first document 445 inthe source language, for translation into the target language. Inanother embodiment, the remote translation memory 250 receives, from atranslation agent 215 on the local machine 102, the at least one portion445 a of the first document 445 in the source language, for translationinto the target language.

In one embodiment, the remote translation memory 250 receives, from alocal machine 102, an updated version of a translation replacing atranslation 425 stored by the remote translation memory 250. In anotherembodiment, the remote translation memory 250 receives, from a localmachine 102, a modification to a translation 425 stored by the remotetranslation memory 250. In still another embodiment, the remotetranslation memory 250 receives, from a local machine 102, an additionaltranslation 425′ to store. In yet another embodiment, the remotetranslation memory 250 determines that an updated version of thetranslation 425 is useful translating the at least one portion 445 a ofthe first document 445. In some embodiments, the remote translationengine 254 determines that a modified translation, revised replacementtranslation, or additional translation is useful in the translation ofat least one portion of a document.

The remote translation memory determines, prior to receiving from atranslator a request for a translation of the at least one portion ofthe first document, that a translation of at least one portion of asecond document is useful in translating the at least one portion of thefirst document (steps 504). In some embodiments, the remote translationmemory 250 receives at least one portion of a first document prior toreceiving from a translator a request for a translation of the at leastone portion of the first document. In other embodiments, the remotetranslation memory 250 receives a first portion of a first document andcompletes a process of identifying a translation for the first portionbefore receiving a request for a translation of a second portion of thefirst document. In still other embodiments, the remote translationmemory 250 receives a portion of a first document and a portion of asecond document. In one of these embodiments, the remote translationmemory 250 completes a process of identifying a translation for theportion of the first document and of identifying the utility of thetranslation of the portion of the first document to a translation of theportion of the second document prior to receiving from a translator arequest for a translation of the portion of the second document. In yetother embodiments, the translation agent 215 transmits a request for atranslation of a portion of the first document while a translator usingthe local machine 102 modifies, edits, or completes a translation of asecond, previous portion of the first document.

A local machine receives an identification of the utility of thetranslation of the at least one portion of the second document to thetranslation of the at least one portion of the first document (step506). In one embodiment, the local machine 102 receives a revision to areceived translation 220. In another embodiment, the local machine 102stores the revision to the received translation 220 without replacingthe received translation 220. In still another embodiment, the localmachine 102 replaces the received translation 220 with the revision tothe received translation 220. In yet another embodiment, the localmachine stores received translations in a local cache.

The local machine generates a translation of the at least one portion ofthe first document through reuse of the translation of the at least oneportion of the second document, responsive to the receivedidentification of the utility of the translation of the at least oneportion of the second document to the translation of the at least oneportion of the first document (step 508). In one embodiment, thetranslation agent 215 generates the translation.

In some embodiments, as described above in connection with FIG. 2 andFIG. 3, a translation of a portion of a document may be reused totranslate a second portion within the same document. In one of theseembodiments, a translation of a portion of a first document may alsohave utility in translating a portion of a second document.Additionally, in some embodiments, even if a translation of a portion ofa first document has no utility in translating other portions of thefirst document, the translation of the portion of the first document mayhave utility in translating portions of other documents. As described inconnection with FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the remotetranslation memory 250 is not limited to a single document whenidentifying portions of documents for which an existing translation maybe useful. In one of these embodiments, the ability to reusetranslations across documents provides increased functionality to a userof the system. For example, and in some embodiments, thousands oftranslators worldwide may provide portions of documents to a translationmemory, which generates translations for each portion and provides othertranslators access to those translations for use in their own documents,and for incorporation into their local translation memories, asdescribed above in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a block diagram depicts one embodiment of asystem for local, computer-aided translation incorporating translatorrevisions to remotely-generated translation predictions. The systemincludes a remote translation server 106 and a local machine 102. Inbrief overview, the remote translation server 106 comprises a remotetranslation memory 250 providing access to a stored translation 660, aremote translation engine 254 determining that the stored translation660 is useful in translating a first portion of a document 645, and atransmitter 270 transmitting the stored translation 660. The localmachine 102 comprises a receiver 240, a local cache 210, a userinterface 605, and a translation agent 215. The receiver 240 receivesthe translation 660 of the first portion of the document 645. The localcache 210 stores the translation 660 of the first portion of thedocument 645. The user interface 605 receives from a translator analternate version 625 of the translation 660 of the first portion of thedocument 645. The translation agent 215 identifies the alternate version625 of the translation 660 of the first portion of the document 645 asuseful in the translation of a second portion of the document 645 andgenerates a translation of the second portion of the document 645through reuse of the alternate version of the translation 625 of thefirst portion of the document 645, responsive to the identification ofthe utility of the alternate version 625 of the translation 660 of thefirst portion of the document 645 in the translation of the secondportion of the document 645.

Referring now to FIG. 6, and in greater detail, in some embodiments, theremote translation server 106 and the local machine 102 include thecomponents and provide the functionality of the remote translationserver 106 and the local machine 102 described in connection with FIG.2-5. The remote translation server 106 comprises a remote translationmemory 250 that provides access to a stored translation 660. In oneembodiment, the remote translation memory 250 stores the translation660. In another embodiment, the remote translation memory 250 stores aplurality of translations 660. In still another embodiment, one or morelocal machines 102 access the remote translation server 106 to requestone of a plurality of translations 660 from the remote translationmemory 250. In some embodiments, the remote translation server 106provides the functionality of the remote translation server 106 asdescribed above in connection with FIG. 2.

In one embodiment, the remote translation server 106 comprises areceiver 280. In another embodiment, the receiver 280 receives a requestfor the translation 660. In still another embodiment, the receiver 280receives a request, from a local machine 102, for a translation of afirst portion of a local document 645. In still another embodiment, thereceiver 280 receives a request for the translation 660 or for atranslation of a portion of a local document 645 from one or more localmachines 102. In yet another embodiment, the receiver 280 receives, froma local machine 102, a modification to a translation 660 stored in theremote translation memory 250.

In some embodiments, the remote translation server 106 includes a meansfor determining that a translation 660 is useful in translating a firstportion of a document 645. In one of these embodiments, the remotetranslation engine 254 determines that the stored translation 660 isuseful in translating a first portion of a document 645. In another ofthese embodiments, the remote translation engine 254 comprises adatabase. In still another of these embodiments, the remote translationengine 254 comprises a table. In one embodiment, the remote translationengine 254 provides the functionality described above in connection withFIG. 2.

The remote translation server 106 comprises a transmitter 270transmitting the stored translation. In one embodiment, the transmitter270 sends the stored translation 660 to the local machine 102. Inanother embodiment, the transmitter 270 sends the stored translation tothe translation agent 215 on the local machine 102. In still anotherembodiment, the transmitter 270 received an identification of the storedtranslation 660 to send to the local machine 102 from the remotetranslation engine 254.

The local machine 102 comprises the receiver 230, the local cache 210,the user interface 605, and the translation agent 215. The receiver 230receives the translation 660 of the first portion of the document 645.In one embodiment, the receiver 230 receives an updated version 625 ofthe translation 660 replacing the received translation 620. The localcache 210 stores the translation 660 of the first portion as receivedtranslation 620. In some embodiments, the local machine 102 comprises aclient 102 as described above in connection with FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.

In one embodiment, the local machine includes a transmitter 240 sendinga request for an updated version of the translation 620 to the remotetranslation server 106. In another embodiment, the transmitter 240 sendsthe request for the updated version before the translation agent 215receives a request for the translation. In still another embodiment, thetransmitter sends alternate versions, modified versions, or newtranslations to the remote translation server 106.

The user interface 605 receives, from a translator, an alternate versionof the translation of the first portion of the document. In oneembodiment, the user interface 605 receives the alternate version 625 ofthe translation 620 upon displaying the translation 620 to thetranslator. In another embodiment, the user interface 605 includes auser interface element for receiving, from the translator, the alteredtranslation 625.

In one embodiment, the local machine 102 includes an application programthat receives the translation 660, stores the translation 660 in thelocal cache, and generates a translation of at least a portion of thedocument 645 using the received translation 620. In another embodiment,the application program provides a user interface 605 for receiving amodification from a translator. In some embodiments, the applicationprogram includes the translation agent 215.

As will be described in greater detail below, in connection with FIG. 8and FIG. 9, in some embodiments, the local machine 102 comprises a meansfor determining whether an updated version of a received translation 620makes the received translation 620 obsolete. In one embodiment, thetransmitter 240 sends a request to the remote translation server 106 foran indication of whether the remote translation server 106 stores anupdated version of the translation 620. In another embodiment, theremote translation server 106 transmits an indication, to the localmachine 102, that an updated version of a translation 660 exists. Instill another embodiment, the translation agent 215 determines whetheran updated version of the translation makes the received translationobsolete. In some embodiments, the receiver 230 receives the updatedversion of the translation 660 and replaces the previously receivedtranslation 620 with the updated version of the translation 660.

The local machine 102 receives from a translator an alternate version ofthe translation 625 of the first portion of the document 645. In someembodiments, the receiver 230 receives the alternate version of thetranslation 625. In one of these embodiments, the receiver 230 storesthe alternate version of the translation 625 in the local cache 210. Inother embodiments, the user interface 605 receives the alternate versionof the translation 625 from the translator. In still other embodiments,the transmitter 240 sends the alternate version of the translation 625to the remote translation server 106.

In some embodiments, the translator reviews the translation of a portionof the document 645, the translation generated with the receivedtranslation 620. In another of these embodiments, the translatorrequests generation of a second translation of the first of the document645 based on a second translation 660′. In still another of theseembodiments, the translator modifies the generated translation of thefirst portion of the document 645.

The translation agent 215 identifies the alternate version of thetranslation 625 of the first portion of the document 645 as useful inthe translation of a second portion of the document 645. In someembodiments, the translation agent 215 includes a means for determiningthat the alternate version of the translation 625 is useful intranslating a first portion of a document 645. In one of theseembodiments, the means for determining the utility of the alternateversion of the translation 625 comprises a database. In another of theseembodiments, the means for determining the utility of the alternateversion of the translation 625 comprises a table. In some embodiments,the determination that the alternate version of the translation 625 isuseful in translating a first portion of a document 645 is made asdescribed above in connection with FIG. 2.

The translation agent 215 generates a translation of the second portionof the document 645 through reuse of the alternate version of thetranslation 625 of the first portion of the document 645, responsive tothe identification of the utility of the alternate version translation625 of the first portion of the document 645 in the translation of thesecond portion of the document 645. In one embodiment, the translationagent 215 generates a translation of the second portion of the document645 by replacing the second portion of the document 645, such as portion645 b, with the alternate version of the translation 625. In anotherembodiment, an application program on the local machine 102 generatesthe translation of the second portion of the document 645. In stillanother embodiment, the user interface 605 displays the translation ofthe second portion of the document 645 to a translator. In yet anotherembodiment, the local machine 102 receives additional alternate versionsof the translation 625 from the translator responsive to a review of thetranslation of the second portion of the document 645. In someembodiments, the translation agent 215 generates a translation of athird portion of the document 645 through reuse of the alternate versionof the translation 625 of the first portion of the document 645,responsive to the identification of the utility of the alternate versiontranslation 625 of the first portion of the document 645 in thetranslation of the third portion of the document 645. In otherembodiments, the translation agent 215 transmits the alternate versionof the translation 625 to the remote translation memory 250. In one ofthese embodiments, the remote translation memory 250 determines that thealternate version of the translation 625 is useful in translating aportion of a second document. In another of these embodiments, theremote translation memory 250 transmits the alternate version of thetranslation 625 and an identification of the utility of alternateversion of the translation 625 to a local machine 102 on which thesecond document resides.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a flow diagram depicts one embodiment of thesteps taken in a method for local, computer-aided translationincorporating translator revisions to remotely-generated translationpredictions. In brief overview, a determination is made that atranslation stored in a remote translation memory is useful intranslating a first portion of a local document (step 702). A localmachine receives the translation (step 704). The local machines stores,in a local cache, an alternate version of the translation created by atranslator (step 706). The alternate version of the translation isidentified as useful in translating a second portion of the document(step 708). The local machine generates a translation of the secondportion of the document through reuse of the alternate version of thetranslation, responsive to the identification of the utility of thealternate version of the translation in the translation of the secondportion of the document (step 710).

Referring now to FIG. 7, and in greater detail, a determination is madethat a translation stored in a remote translation memory is useful intranslating a first portion of a local document (step 702). In oneembodiment, the remote translation server 106 makes the determination.In another embodiment, the remote translation memory 250 makes thedetermination, the remote translation memory 250 accessed by a pluralityof local machines. In still another embodiment, the determination ismade responsive to receiving a request for a translation of the firstportion of the local document. In yet another embodiment, one or morelocal machines make the request for the translation.

A local machine receives the translation (step 704). In one embodiment,the local machine 102 stores the received translation 620 in a localcache 210. In another embodiment, the local machine 102 receives thetranslation responsive to sending a request to the remote translationserver 106 for the translation.

In some embodiments, and as discussed in greater detail below inconnection with FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the local machine 102 makes adetermination as to whether an updated version of the translation makesthe received translation obsolete. In one of these embodiments, theremote translation memory 250 receives a request for an updated versionof the translation. In other embodiments, the local machine 10 receivesan updated version of the translation, which replaces the receivedtranslation 620.

The local machines stores, in a local cache, an alternate version of thetranslation created by a translator (step 706). In one embodiment, thelocal machine 102 receives, from the translator, a modification of areceived translation 620. In another embodiment, the local machine 102receives, from the translator, a replacement of a received translation620. In still another embodiment, the local machine 102 transmits, tothe remote translation memory, the alternate version of the translation.

The alternate version of the translation is identified as useful intranslating a second portion of the document (step 708). In oneembodiment, the local machine 102 identifies the alternate version ofthe translation as useful in translating the second portion of thedocument responsive to receiving a request for translation of the secondportion of the document. The local machine generates a translation ofthe second portion of the document through reuse of the alternateversion of the translation, responsive to the identification of theutility of the alternate version of the translation in the translationof the second portion of the document (step 710). In one embodiment, thelocal machine 102 generates a translation of the second portion of thedocument by replacing the second portion of the document with thealternate version of the translation in a copy of the document. Inanother embodiment, a translation of a portion of a document is added tothe document and displayed in addition to the second portion of thedocument.

In some embodiments, and as described above in connection with FIG. 4and FIG. 5, a translation may be determined to have utility intranslating a portion of a second document. In one of these embodiments,the translation agent 215 transmits an altered version received from atranslator to the remote translation memory 250. In another of theseembodiments, the remote translation memory 250 transmits the alteredversion of the translation with an identification of the utility of thealtered version of the translation to a translation of a portion of asecond document to the translation agent 215 on the local machine 102.In still another of these embodiments, the remote translation memory 250transmits the altered version of the translation with an identificationof the utility of the altered version of the translation to atranslation of a portion of a second document to a second translationagent 215′ on a second local machine 102 b.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a block diagram depicts another embodiment of asystem for maintaining and updating remotely-generated translationpredictions. The system includes a remote translation server 106 and alocal machine 102. In brief overview, the remote translation server 106includes a remote translation memory, a remote translation engine and atransmitter. The remote translation memory 250 provides access to astored translation 660. The remote translation engine 254 determinesthat the stored translation 660 is useful in translating a first portionof a document 245. The transmitter 270 transmits the stored translation660. The local machine 102 includes a receiver 230 and a translationagent 215. The receiver 230 receives the translation 660 of the firstportion of the document 245. The translation agent 215 determines, priorto receiving from a translator a request for a translation of the firstportion of the document 245, that the remote translation memory storesan updated version of the translation 825, identifies the updatedversion of the translation 825 as useful in translating a second portionof the document 245, and generates a translation of the second portionof the document 245 through reuse of the updated version of thetranslation 825, responsive to the identification of the utility of theupdated version of the translation 825 of the first portion of thedocument 245 in translating the second portion of the document 245.

Referring now to FIG. 8, and in greater detail, in some embodiments, theremote translation server 106 and the local machine 102 include thecomponents and provide the functionality of the remote translationserver 106 and the local machine 102 described in connection with FIG.2-7. The remote translation server 106 includes a remote translationmemory, a remote translation engine and a transmitter. The remotetranslation memory 250 provides access to a stored translation 660. Theremote translation engine 254 determines that the stored translation 660is useful in translating a first portion of a document 245. Thetransmitter 270 transmits the stored translation 660. In one embodiment,the remote translation server 106 provides the functionality of theremote translation server 106 described above in connection with FIG. 2,FIG. 4, and FIG. 6.

The local machine 102 provides the functionality of the local machine102 described above in connection with FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 6. Thetranslation agent 215 determines, prior to receiving from a translator arequest for a translation of the first portion of the document 845, thatthe remote translation memory 250 stores an updated version 825 of thetranslation 660. In one embodiment, the receiver 230 receives thetranslation 660 before receiving a request from a translator for atranslation of a first portion of the document 245. In anotherembodiment, the receiver 230 on the local machine 102 receives a requestfor a translation of the second portion of the document.

In some embodiments, the translation agent 215 includes two processes.In one of these embodiments, a first process identifies a receivedtranslation 620 for use in translating a first portion of a document645. In another of these embodiments, a second process maintains andupdates received translations 620, requesting updates from the remotetranslation memory 250 and replacing received translations 620 asupdated versions 825 obsolete the received translations 620. In stillanother of these embodiments, the second process may update atranslation 620 before the first process receives a request for atranslation of a portion of a document, the translation requiring theuse of the translation 620.

In one embodiment, the translation agent 215 determines whether theupdated version 825 of the translation 660 makes the receivedtranslation 620 obsolete. In some embodiments, the translation agent 215requests the updated version 825 from the remote translation server 106.In one of these embodiments, the transmitter 240 on the local machine102 sends the request for the updated version 825 of the translation tothe remote translations server 106. In other embodiments, the remotetranslation server 106 automatically transmits an updated version 825 ofthe translation 660 upon receiving the updated version 825. In one ofthese embodiments, the receiver 230 on the local machine 102 receives anindication that the remote translation memory 250 stores the updatedversion 825 of the translation 660. In another of these embodiments, thereceiver 230 on the local machine 102 receives an updated version 825 ofthe translation 660, replacing the received translation 620. In otherembodiments, the local machine 102 stores the updated version 825 of thetranslation 660 in a local cache 210. In still other embodiments, thelocal machine 102 receives, from a translator, a modification to theupdated version 825 of the translation 660.

The translation agent 215 identifies the updated version 825 of thetranslation 660 as useful in translating a second portion of thedocument 845. In some embodiments, the local machine 102 includes ameans for determining that the updated version 825 of the translation660 is useful in translating a second portion of a document 845. In oneof these embodiments, the means for determining the utility of theupdated version 825 of the translation 660 comprises a database. Inanother of these embodiments, the means for determining the utility ofthe updated version 825 of the translation 660 comprises a table.

The translation agent 215 generates a translation of the second portionof the document 845 through reuse of the updated version 825 of thetranslation 660, responsive to the identification of the utility of theupdated version 825 of the translation 660 of the first portion of thedocument 845 in translating the second portion of the document 845. Inone embodiment, the translation agent 215 generates a translation of thesecond portion of the document 845 by replacing the second portion ofthe document 845 with the updated version 825 of the translation 660. Inanother embodiment, an application program on the local machine 102generates the translation of the second portion of the document 845.

In some embodiments, the user interface 605 displays an obsolete versionof a translation 660. In one of these embodiments, the user interface605 displays the obsolete version of the translation 660 before atranslation agent 215 has received an updated version 825 of thetranslation 660 from the remote translation memory 250. In another ofthese embodiments, the user interface 605 displays a graphical userinterface element to the translator when the translation agent 215receives the updated version 825 of the translation 660 of the firstportion of the document 825. In still another of these embodiments, theuser interface 605 receives from the translator, via the graphical userinterface element, an indication as to whether to replace the obsoleteversion of the translation 660 with the updated version 825 of thetranslation 660.

In one embodiment, the user interface 605 displays the translation ofthe second portion of the document 845 to a translator. In anotherembodiment, the user interface 605 receives an alternate version 625 ofthe translation 825 from the translator, responsive to a review of thetranslation of the second portion of the document 845.

In some embodiments, the translation agent 215 generates a translationof a third portion of the document 845 through reuse of the updatedversion 825 of the translation 660 of the first portion of the document825, responsive to the identification of the utility of the updatedversion 825 of the translation 660 of the first portion of the document845 in the translation of the third portion of the document 845. Inother embodiments, the translation agent 215 transmits the updatedversion 825 of the translation 660 of the first portion of the document825 to the remote translation memory 250. In one of these embodiments,the remote translation memory 250 determines that the updated version825 of the translation 660 of the first portion of the document 825 isuseful in translating a portion of a second document. In another ofthese embodiments, the remote translation memory 250 transmits theupdated version 825 of the translation 660 of the first portion of thedocument 825 and an identification of the utility of the updated version825 of the translation 660 of the first portion of the document 825 onwhich the second document resides.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a flow diagram depicts another embodiment ofthe steps taken in a method for maintaining and updatingremotely-generated translation predictions. In brief overview, adetermination is made that a translation stored in a remote translationmemory is useful in translating a first portion of a local document(step 902). A local machine receives the translation (step 904). Thelocal machines determines, prior to receiving from a translator arequest for the translation, that the remote translation memory storesan updated version of the translation (step 906). The updated version ofthe translation is identified as useful in translating a second portionof the document (step 908). The local machine generates a translation ofthe second portion of the document through reuse of the updated versionof the translation, responsive to the identification of the utility ofthe updated version of the translation in the translation of the secondportion of the document (step 910).

Referring now to FIG. 9, and in greater detail, a determination is madethat a translation stored in a remote translation memory is useful intranslating a first portion of a local document (step 902). In oneembodiment, the remote translation server 106 makes the determination asdescribed above in connection with step 702 of FIG. 7. A local machinereceives the translation (step 904). In one embodiment, the localmachine 102 received translation 620 and provides the functionalitydescribed above in connection with step 704 of FIG. 7.

The local machine 102 determines, prior to receiving from a translator arequest for the translation, that the remote translation memory storesan updated version 825 of the translation 660 (step 906). In oneembodiment, the local machine 102 determines that the updated version825 of the translation 660 makes the received translation obsolete. Inanother embodiment, the receiver 230 on the local machine 102 requests,from the remote translation memory, the updated version 825 of thetranslation 660. In still another embodiment, the local machine 102receives, form the remote translation memory, an indication that theremote translation memory 250 stores the updated version 825 of thetranslation 660. In yet another embodiment, the local machine 102receives the updated version 825 of the translation 660, replacing thereceived translation 620.

In one embodiment, the local machine 102 stores the updated version 825of the translation 660 in a local cache 210. In another embodiment, thelocal machine 102 receives, from a translator, a modification to theupdated version 825 of the translation 660.

The updated version 825 of the translation 660 is identified as usefulin translating a second portion of the document (step 508). In oneembodiment, the local machine 102 identifies the updated version 825 ofthe translation 660 as useful in translating the second portion of thedocument 845 responsive to receiving a request for translation of thesecond portion of the document. In another embodiment, the local machine102 identifies the updated version 825 of the translation 660 as usefulin translating the second portion of the document 845 upon receiving therequest for the translation.

The local machine generates a translation of the second portion of thedocument through reuse of the updated version of the translation,responsive to the identification of the utility of the updated versionof the translation in the translation of the second portion of thedocument (step 910). In one embodiment, the local machine 102 generatesa translation of the second portion of the document by replacing thesecond portion of the document with the updated version of thetranslation in a copy of the document.

The systems and methods described above may be provided as one or morecomputer-readable programs embodied on or in one or more articles ofmanufacture. The article of manufacture may be a floppy disk, a harddisk, a CD-ROM, a flash memory card, a PROM, a RAM, a ROM, or a magnetictape. In general, the computer-readable programs may be implemented inany programming language, LISP, PERL, C, C++, PROLOG, or any byte codelanguage such as JAVA. The software programs may be stored on or in oneor more articles of manufacture as object code.

Having described certain embodiments of methods and systems for local,computer-aided translation using remotely-generated translationpredictions, it will now become apparent to one of skill in the art thatother embodiments incorporating the concepts of the invention may beused. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to certainembodiments, but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scopeof the following claims.

1. A method for local, computer-aided translation usingremotely-generated translation predictions, the method comprising thesteps of: (a) determining that a translation stored in a remotetranslation memory is useful in translating a first portion of a localdocument; (b) receiving, by a local machine, the translation; (c)determining, prior to receiving a request from a translator for thetranslation, that the remote translation memory stores an updatedversion of the translation; (d) identifying the updated version of thetranslation as useful in translating a second portion of the document;and (e) generating, by the local machine, a translation of the secondportion of the document through reuse of the updated version of thetranslation, responsive to the identification of the utility of theupdated version of the translation in translating the second portion ofthe document.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) furthercomprises determining that a translation stored in a remote translationmemory is useful in translating a first portion of a local document, theremote translation memory accessed by a plurality of local machines. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises storing thereceived translation in a local cache.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinstep (c) further comprises determining that the updated version of thetranslation makes the received translation obsolete.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving, from the remotetranslation memory, an indication that the remote translation memorystores the updated version of the translation.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein step (c) further comprises requesting from the remotetranslation memory the updated version of the translation.
 7. The methodof claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving an updatedversion of the translation replacing the received translation.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises storing theupdated version of the translation in a local cache.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving, from atranslator, a modification to the received translation.
 10. The methodof claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises receiving a request fortranslation of the second portion of the document.
 11. A system forlocal, computer-aided translation using remotely-generated translationpredictions comprising: a remote translation server comprising: a remotetranslation memory providing access to a stored translation, a remotetranslation engine determining that a translation stored in the remotetranslation memory is useful in translating a first portion of thedocument, and a transmitter transmitting the stored translation; and alocal machine comprising: a receiver receiving the translation of thefirst portion of the document, and a translation agent determining,prior to receiving a request from a translator for the translation, thatthe remote translation memory stores an updated version of thetranslation, identifying the updated version of the translation asuseful in translating a second portion of the document, and generating atranslation of the second portion of the document through reuse of theupdated version of the translation, responsive to the identification ofthe utility of the updated version of the translation of the firstportion of the document in translating the second portion of thedocument.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote translationserver is accessed by a plurality of translation agents.
 13. The systemof claim 11, wherein the remote translation memory stores a plurality oftranslations.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote translationserver further comprises a receiver for receiving, from a local machine,a modification to a translation stored in the remote translation memory.15. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote translation serverfurther comprises a receiver for receiving, from a local machine, arequest for translation of a first portion of a local document.
 16. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the local machine further comprises a localcache storing the received translation.
 17. The system of claim 11,wherein the local machine further comprises a local cache storing theupdated version of the translation.
 18. The system of claim 11, whereinthe translation agent further comprises a means for determining whetherthe updated version of the translation makes the received translationobsolete.
 19. The system of claim 11, wherein the local machine furthercomprises a transmitter sending a request, to the remote translationserver, for the updated version of the translation.
 20. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the receiver further comprises a means for receiving,from the remote translation memory, an indication that the remotetranslation memory stores the updated version of the translation. 21.The system of claim 11, wherein the receiver further comprises a meansfor receiving an updated version of the translation replacing thereceived translation.
 22. The system of claim 11, wherein the receiverfurther comprises a means for receiving, from a translator, amodification to the received translation.
 23. The system of claim 11,wherein the receiver further comprises a means for receiving a requestfor translation of the second portion of the document.
 24. A system forlocal, computer-aided translation using remotely-generated translationpredictions comprising: a remote translation server comprising: a meansfor providing access to a stored translation, a means for determiningthat a translation stored in the remote translation memory is useful intranslating a first portion of the document, and a means fortransmitting the stored translation; and a local machine comprising: ameans for receiving the translation of the first portion of thedocument, and a means for determining, prior to receiving a request froma translator for the translation, that the means for providing access tothe stored translation stores an updated version of the translation, ameans for identifying the updated version of the translation as usefulin translating a second portion of the document, and a means forgenerating a translation of the second portion of the document throughreuse of the updated version of the translation, responsive to theidentification of the utility of the updated version of the translationof the first portion of the document in translating the second portionof the document.
 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the remotetranslation server is accessed by a plurality of local machines.
 26. Thesystem of claim 24, wherein the means for providing access to a storedtranslation further comprise a means for storing a plurality oftranslations.
 27. The system of claim 24, wherein the remote translationserver further comprises a means for receiving, from a local machine, amodification to a translation stored in the means for providing accessto a stored translation.
 28. The system of claim 24, wherein the remotetranslation server further comprises a means for receiving, from a localmachine, a request for translation of a first portion of a localdocument.
 29. The system of claim 24, wherein the local machine furthercomprises a means for storing the received translation.
 30. The systemof claim 24, wherein the local machine further comprises a means forstoring the updated version of the translation.
 31. The system of claim24, wherein the means for determining that the means for providingaccess to the stored translation stores an updated version of thetranslation further comprises a means for determining whether theupdated version of the translation makes the received translationobsolete.
 32. The system of claim 24, wherein the local machine furthercomprises a transmitter sending a request, to the remote translationserver, for the updated version of the translation.
 33. The system ofclaim 24, wherein the receiver further comprises a means for receiving,from the remote translation server, an indication that the remotetranslation server stores the updated version of the translation. 34.The system of claim 24, wherein the receiver further comprises a meansfor receiving an updated version of the translation replacing thereceived translation.
 35. The system of claim 24, wherein the localmachine further comprises a means for receiving, from a translator, amodification to the received translation.
 36. The system of claim 24,wherein the receiver further comprises a means for receiving a requestfor translation of the second portion of the document.